MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

COMBAT VEHICLES

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M1A1 MAIN BATTLE TANK

BRIEFING: The M1A1 is the Corps’ only main battle tank.
Powered by the AGT 1,500-horsepower gas-turbine engine, the
67.6-ton tank has a governed speed of 42 mph, a cross-country
speed of 30 mph and a 279-mile cruising range. It can climb a 60-
degree slope at 4. 5 mph and traverse a trench three yards wide. It
is armed with a 120mm smooth-bore gun, a coaxially mounted
M240 7.62mm machine gun, an M240 loader’s weapon and a .50-
caliber M2 commander’s weapon. The M1A1 is equipped with a
nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) overpressure protection
system. The service began acquiring its new tanks in 1991 and has
assigned them to Fleet Marine Force battalions, the Reserve battalion and two Maritime Prepositioning Ship squadrons. The tanks
saw extensive combat in Iraq from 2003 through 2009 and were
deployed to Afghanistan in late 2010.

CONTRACTOR: ...........General Dynamics Land Systems

INTERNALLY TRANSPORTABLE
VEHICLES (ITV)

BRIEFING: The ITV is a highly mobile weapons capable light
strike platform that can support a variety of operations. The ITV
provides MAGTF ground combat units with a vehicle transportable
in MV- 22 tiltrotor aircraft and CH-53E/K and CH- 47 rotary wing
aircraft. It also provides reconnaissance units equal or greater
mobility than the MAGTF maneuver elements they support, thereby enhancing mission performance and survivability. The ITV
allows MAGTF commanders to take maximum advantage of the
speed and range offered by the MV- 22, CH-53E/K and CH- 47 aircraft by deploying ground units equipped with highly mobile light
strike vehicles armed with heavy or medium machine guns.

The Marine Corps fielded two ITV variants: the Light Strike
Vehicle (LSV) and the Prime Mover (PM). The ITV LSV replaced
the Interim Fast Attack Vehicle that was fielded in the mid-1990s.
The ITV PM supports the EFSS. It is the designated prime mover
for the 120mm towed mortar and M1164 ammunition trailer. The
Marine Corps completed fielding of the ITV to the operating
forces in 2012. The current Marine Corps acquisition objective
for the ITV is 266 LSVs and 145 PMs.

There are several variants of the MTVR for different tasks, including a cargo variant in both standard and extended length wheel
base (XLWB) configurations, dump truck, wrecker and tractor. The
dump and wrecker variants maintain maximum commonality with
the basic MTVR cargo chassis while performing unique missions.
The tractor variant serves as the prime mover for the Marine Corps’
Mk 970 5,000-gallon aviation and bulk-haul refueling trailer.
The Navy also uses MTVR vehicles for construction battalion
(Seabee) operations. The HIMARS resupply vehicle is an MTVR
XLWB cargo variant that was procured with an associated trailer
as part of the HIMARS artillery resupply system.

MTVR armor provides 360-degree protection as well as overhead
and underbody protection for the crew compartment. The armor is
designed for the 22-year service life of the vehicle. MTVR armor protects against small-arms fire, IEDs and mines. It includes upgraded
suspension, air conditioning system, removable armored personnel
carrier (with ballistic glass) for cargo variants, machine gun mounts
and the Marine Corps Transparent Armor Gun Shield. The armor is
a permanent modification to the vehicle. The “reducible height”
armor configuration allows for removal of the cab roof to accommodate Maritime Prepositioned Force space requirements. Armor is to
be installed on all MTVR variants deployed to hostile environments.

The MTVR’s Medium & Heavy Tactical Vehicle Program Management Office (PMO) has continued to improve MTVR armor in
response to Urgent Universal Needs Statements (UUNSs) — adding
increased underbody blast protection, fuel tank fire-protection kits
and 300-amp alternator kits, as well as developing the reducible
height armor configuration. In addition, live-fire testing has resulted
in armor upgrades for non-reducible height armored MTVRs and
the armored troop carrier. The PMO is developing additional safety
upgrades, such as transportability improvements and emergency
egress windshields, in response to UUNSs and operational force input. The PMO is also working with the Office of Naval Research under Future Naval Capability to develop a fuel economy upgrade kit.